LYMPHEDEMA DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWING BREAST CANCER SURGERY WITH FULL AXILLARY RESECTION

Abstract

Several studies have investigated the influence of disease related, treatment related, andpatient related risk factors on the development of postmastectomy edema (PME). The aim of thepresent study was to determine which factors present a higher risk of developing PME afterbreast surgery with full axillary resection (level I, II and III). To accomplish this aim, weinvestigated 245 women who underwent unilateral breast cancer surgery in the AcademicHospital of the Vrije Universiteit, Brussels. Information concerning treatment and diseaserelated factors were collected from the patient’s medical records and factors related to clinicalcondition were obtained by a personal interview. Arm circumference was taken at 15 cmproximal and 10 cm distal to the olecranon. PME was defined as 2.5 cm difference between thearms. Height and weight of the patient were also measured. Statistical analysis was performedby calculating the Odds Ratio and the 95% Confidence Interval. We found the following factorsposed an increased risk of developing PME: axillary/supraclavicular radiotherapy, pathologicalstatus of the lymph nodes, overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m²), trauma to the arm, menopause andsurgery on the dominant side.